Previously, the site was home of the Center School at Sixth and Washington, formerly attended by white students, was known by 1881 as the “Colored School.” An 1869 law had mandated education of colored children, with a separate enumeration and separate schools supported with tax revenue within the common school system. The school was in operation until the 1914–15 school year, after which the pupils attended classes in the Catholic School building at Third Street and College Avenue until the new Banneker School opened in 1916. The old Center School building was torn down and the Carnegie Library was built there.

On February 14, 2005, an historical marker plaque was dedicated on the Sixth Street side of the building, commemorating the Center School and its history.

County’s only Carnegie Library was dedicated 1918 as Bloomington Public Library with 6,439 volumes. It was built with local support and $31,000 from the Carnegie Corporation. It replaced Colored School, at this site circa 1874-1915. An addition was built at the southeast corner in 1955. The Monroe County Library moved to its new building nearby in 1970. It was one of 1,679 libraries built in U.S. with funds from philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. Indiana built more Carnegie libraries than any other state. The original building was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. The Monroe County Historical Society and Museum refurbished and occupied the building  in 1980.

To learn about the contentious process leading to the Historical Society's acquistion of the building, read Elizabeth Schlemmer's history honor's thesis, "The Old Library Debate."

An historic marker plaque, commemorating the original Carnegie Library, was dedicated on April 21, 2007.

During October, 2005, an historic limestone hitching post was donated to the History Center by Virginia Tyte, and installed outside the front entrance on Washington St.

The History Center's permanent and special exhibits remind us of our proud cultural and natural heritage and showcase items from our collection of over 50,000 artifacts -- documents, clothing, tools, furniture, toys, maps and photographs.

The History Center consists of a museum, genealogy library and a museum store. The Genealogy Library is one of the best resources in the county to "unearth" buried information. The Museum Store is an excellent source of unique and locally-made gifts.

Step into a 1840's log cabin or sit on a bench in a one-room school, and imagine yourself back in time. Experience how Monroe County citizens lived, worked, played and learned during the past two centuries.